Electronic Switching and Protection Circuit

ABSTRACT

An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, a first protection circuit configured to generate a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current through the load path of the electronic switch, and a drive circuit configured to drive the electronic switch based on the first protection signal. The first protection circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC input signal representing the load current, to sample the ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successive sampling periods, and to output an ADC output signal that includes a sequence of values such that each of the values represents a respective sample of the ADC input signal. The ADC is configured to pseudo-randomly select a sample time in each sampling period.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure in general relates to an electronic switching andprotection circuit, and more particularly to an electronic circuit whichfunctions as an electronic switch and an electronic fuse.

BACKGROUND

A fuse is a protection device which trips dependent on a current and atime duration the current flows. For example, the fuse tripssubstantially instantaneously if the current is higher than a maximumcurrent, does not trip if the current is a rated current or below therated current, and trips after a delay time that is dependent on thecurrent if the current is between the rated current and the maximumcurrent. A fuse may be used to protect a load and a cable between apower source and the load. The function of a fuse can be implementedusing an electronic switch, and a drive circuit.

SUMMARY

One example relates to an electronic circuit. The electronic circuitincludes an electronic switch with a load path, a first protectioncircuit configured to generate a first protection signal based on acurrent-time-characteristic of a load current through the load path ofthe electronic switch, and a drive circuit configured to drive theelectronic switch based on the first protection signal. The firstprotection circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)configured to receive an ADC input signal representing the load current,to sample the ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successivesampling periods, and to output an ADC output signal that includes asequence of values such that each of the values represents a respectivesample of the ADC input signal. The ADC is configured to pseudo-randomlyselect a sample time in each sampling period.

Another example relates to a method. The method includes generating afirst protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a loadcurrent through a load path of an electronic switch. Generating thefirst protection signal includes, by an analog-to-digital converter(ADC), receiving an ADC input signal representing the load current,sampling the ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successivesampling periods, and outputting an ADC output signal that includes asequence of values such that each of the values represents a respectivesample of the ADC input signal. Sampling the ADC input signal once ineach of a plurality of successive sampling periods includes sampling theADC input signal at a pseudo-randomly selected sampling time in eachsampling period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples are explained below with reference to the drawings. Thedrawings serve to illustrate certain principles, so that only aspectsnecessary for understanding these principles are illustrated. Thedrawings are not to scale. In the drawings the same reference charactersdenote like features.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electronic circuit with anelectronic switch and a control circuit configured to drive theelectronic switch;

FIG. 2 shows one example of the control circuit;

FIG. 3 shows one way of operation of a drive circuit in the controlcircuit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows one example of the drive circuit;

FIG. 5 shows another example of the control circuit;

FIG. 6 shows one example of the electronic switch;

FIG. 7 shows another example of the electronic switch;

FIG. 8 shows one example of a first protection circuit included in thecontrol circuit;

FIG. 9 shows one example of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in thefirst protection circuit shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show characteristics of the ADC according to oneexample;

FIG. 11 shows one example of a filter in the first protection circuitshown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 shows another example of the filter in the first protectioncircuit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 illustrates operation of a multiplier included in the filtershown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows another example of the filter in the first protectioncircuit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one way of operation ofthe filter;

FIG. 16 shows one example of a comparator circuit included in the firstprotection circuit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 illustrates the characteristic curve of an electronic circuitthat includes a first protection circuit (wire protection circuit) and,optionally, a second protection circuit (overcurrent protectioncircuit);

FIG. 18 illustrates sampling a current measurement signal in accordancewith the clock signal, according to one example;

FIG. 19 shows a timing diagram of a clock signal that includes aplurality of clock cycles and clock pulses with varying positions in theindividual clock cycles;

FIG. 20 shows one example of a circuit configured to generate a clocksignal as shown in FIG. 19 from a clock signal as shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one way of operation ofthe circuit shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 shows a control circuit according to another example;

FIG. 23 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one way of operation ofthe control circuit shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 shows a control circuit according to another example;

FIG. 25 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one way of operation ofthe control circuit shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 shows a control circuit according to another example;

FIGS. 27A and 27B show timing diagrams that illustrate operation of thecontrol circuit shown in FIG. 26 in different operation modes;

FIG. 28 shows a control circuit according to another example;

FIGS. 29A-29C show timing diagrams of a test signal configured toinitiate a test mode of the control circuit;

FIG. 30 shows possible signal levels of a signal output by the controlcircuit in the test mode;

FIG. 31 shows timing diagrams of signals in the test mode; and

FIG. 32 shows an electronic circuit with a control circuit according toanother example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings. The drawings form a part of the description andby way of illustration show specific embodiments in which the inventionmay be practiced. It is to be understood that the features of thevarious embodiments described herein may be combined with each other,unless specifically noted otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows one example of an electronic circuit. The electroniccircuit includes an electronic switch 2 with a control node 21 and aload path between a first load node 22 and a second load node 23. Theelectronic circuit further includes a control circuit 1 coupled to thecontrol node 21 of the electronic switch 2 and configured to drive theelectronic switch 2. The electronic circuit with the electronic switch 2and the control circuit 1 can be monolithically integrated on onesemiconductor die (chip) or can be integrated in two semiconductor diesthat are arranged in one integrated circuit package. The electroniccircuit is configured to drive a load Z (illustrated in dashed lines inFIG. 1) that can be connected in series with the load path of theelectronic switch 2, wherein the series circuit with the electronicswitch 2 and the load Z can be connected between supply nodes where apositive supply potential Vbat and a negative supply potential or groundpotential GND is available. A voltage between the positive supply nodeand the negative supply node is referred to as supply voltage in thefollowing.

In particular, the electronic circuit can be used to drive a load Z in acar. In this case, a power source that supplies the supply voltage Vbatis a car battery. “To drive a load” may include to switch on or off theload by switching on or off the electronic switch 2 in the electroniccircuit. The load can be any of a variety of electric loads used in acar. Examples of the load Z include, but are not restricted to,different types of lights, different types of motors, relays, a heatingsystem, or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the electronicswitch 2 and the load Z are connected in a high-side configuration. Thatis, the load Z is connected between the electronic switch 2 and theground node GND. This, however, is only an example. The electronicswitch 2 and the load Z could also be connected in a low sideconfiguration or in any other configuration as well. In a low sideconfiguration, for example, the load Z is connected between theelectronic switch and the positive supply node.

Referring to FIG. 1, the load Z can be connected to the electronicswitch 2 via an electrically conducting wire. Dependent on where theelectronic circuit and the respective load Z are located in the car, thewire may have a considerable length of several 10 cm or even more. Amodern car includes a plurality of electric loads, so that a pluralityof wires are required to connect the individual loads to theirrespective electronic switch. In order to save costs and resources, itmay be desirable to dimension the individual wires such that on a longrange they withstand a current corresponding to a rated current of therespective load. If, however, the current rises above the rated current,the wire may be damaged or even destroyed due to overheating. Accordingto one example, the control circuit 1 therefore has a function tomonitor a load current I_(L) through the electronic switch 2 and switchoff the electronic switch 2 to protect the wire when an overloadscenario is detected. An “overload scenario” is a scenario that mayresult in the wire being damaged or destroyed if the electronic switch22 is not switched off to interrupt the connection between the powersource and the wire. This is explained in further detail herein below.As the electronic circuit is configured to switch on and off the load Zand protect the wire, it is also referred to as switching and protectioncircuit in the following.

In FIG. 1, the electronic switch 2 is schematically drawn as a circuitblock that includes a switch. In the following, the term “electronicswitch” is meant to include any type of electronic switch or electronicswitch arrangement that has a control node 21 and a load path between afirst load node 22 and a second load node 23 and is configured to switchon and off dependent on a drive signal received at the control node 21.“To switch on” means to operate the electronic switch 2 in an on-statein which the electronic switch 2 is capable of conducting a currentbetween the first load node 22 and the second load node 23. “To switchoff” means to operate the electronic switch 2 in an off-state in whichthe electronic switch 2 is capable of preventing a current flow betweenthe first load node 22 and the second load node 23. According to oneexample, the electronic switch 2 includes at least one transistor. Theat least one transistor is, for example, a MOSFET (Metal OxideSemiconductor Field-Effect Transistor), an IGBT (Insulated Gate BipolarTransistor), a JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor), a BJT (BipolarJunction Transistor), or a HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor).

In the following, examples of the control circuit 1 and its function areexplained with reference to drawings. In particular, the function of thecontrol circuit 1 is explained with reference to functional blocksdepicted in the drawings. It should be noted that these functionalblocks represent the function of the control circuit 1 rather than itsspecific implementation. These functional blocks can be dedicatedcircuit blocks configured to perform the respective function explainedbelow. However, it is also possible that the functions of the individualfunctional blocks are performed by a programmable circuit (processor) onwhich a dedicated software stored in a memory runs.

FIG. 2 shows one example of the control circuit 1. In this example, thecontrol circuit 1 includes a first protection circuit 4 configured togenerate a first protection signal S4 based on acurrent-time-characteristic of the load current I_(L). “To generate thefirst protection signal S4 based on the current-time-characteristic ofthe load current I_(L)” may include that the first protection circuit,to generate the first protection signal S4, considers the current levelof the load current I_(L) and the current history. That is, the firstprotection circuit 4 evaluates the load current I_(L) over a certaintime period in order to generate the first protection signal S4. To beable to evaluate the load current I_(L) the first protection circuit 4receives a current measurement signal CS and generates the firstprotection signal S4 based on the current measurement signal CS.According to one example, the current measurement signal CS isproportional to the load current I_(L). In the example shown in FIG. 2,the current measurement signal CS (which may also be referred to ascurrent sense signal) is available at a sense output 24 of theelectronic switch 2. In this case, a current measurement circuitconfigured to measure the load current I_(L) and provide the currentmeasurement signal CS is integrated in the electronic switch 2. However,this is only an example. A current measurement circuit separate from theelectronic switch 2 can be used as well.

The control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to drive theelectronic switch 2 based on the first protection signal S4 and an inputsignal S_(IN) received at a first input node (input pin) P_(IN) of thecontrol circuit 1 and the electronic circuit, respectively. A drivecircuit 3 receives the first protection signal S4 and the input signalS_(IN) and generates a drive signal S3 based on the first protectionsignal S4 and the input signal S_(IN). The drive signal S3 is receivedat the control node 21 of the electronic switch 2 and is configured toswitch on or off the electronic switch 2. Optionally, a driver 51 isconnected between the drive circuit 3 and the control node 21 of theelectronic switch 2. According to one example, the drive signal S3 is alogic signal that has an on-level indicating that it is desired toswitch on the electronic switch 2, or an off-level indicating that it isdesired to switch off the electronic switch 2. The optional driver 51 isconfigured to drive the electronic switch 2 based on the respectivesignal level of the drive signal S3. The electronic switch 2, forexample, includes a transistor, such as a MOSFET (as schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 2). A MOSFET is a voltage controlled semiconductordevice that switches on or off dependent on a drive voltage appliedbetween a gate node and a source node. In this example, the driver 51 isconfigured to generate the drive voltage based on the drive signal S3 inorder to switch on or off the electronic switch 2 based on the drivesignal S3.

One way of operation of the control circuit 1, in particular of thedrive circuit 3, is explained with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 showstiming diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), the first protection signalS4, and the drive signal S3. In the example shown, the input signalS_(IN) is a logic signal that has an on-level or an off-level. Anon-level of the input signal S_(IN) indicates that it is desired toswitch on the electronic switch 2, and an off-level indicates that it isdesired to switch off the electronic switch 2. Just for the purpose ofexplanation, the on-level is a high logic level and the off-level is alow logic level in this example. Equivalently, the on-level of the drivesignal S3 is drawn as a high level and the off-level is drawn as a lowlevel in the example shown in FIG. 3. In this example, the firstprotection signal S4 is also a logic signal with two different signallevels. A signal level of the first protection signal S4, indicatingthat it is desired to switch off the electronic switch 2, is referred toas protection level or disable level (as it disables the drive circuit 3to switch on the electronic switch 2) in the following. Just for thepurpose of illustration, the protection level is a high logic level inthe example shown in FIG. 3. The other signal level of the firstprotection signal S4 is referred to as enable level (as it enables thedrive circuit 3 to drive the electronic switch 2 based on the inputsignal S_(IN)) in the following. The enable level is a low signal levelin the present example.

Referring to FIG. 3, the drive circuit 3 is configured to drive theelectronic switch 2 based on the input signal S_(IN) if the firstprotection signal S4 has the enable level. That is, the drive circuit 3switches on the electronic switch 2 when the signal level of the inputsignal S_(IN) changes from the off-level to the on-level by generatingan on-level of the drive signal S3, and switches off the electronicswitch 3 when the signal level of the input signal S_(IN) changes fromthe on-level to the off-level by generating an off-level of the drivesignal S3. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 between time instances t0 andt1. The drive circuit 3 switches off the electronic switch 2 by changingthe signal level of the drive signal S3 from the on-level to theoff-level when the first protection signal S4 indicates that it isdesired to switch off the electronic switch 3. This is shown in FIG. 3at time instance t1 when the signal level of the first protection signalS4 changes to the protection level.

According to one example, the drive circuit 3 maintains the electronicswitch 2 in the off-state even if the first protection signal S4 changesto the enable level and the input signal S_(IN) has the on-level aftertime t1. That is, the drive circuit 3 is locked in an operation statethat maintains the electronic switch 2 in the off-state until it isreset. According to one example, the drive circuit 3 is configured toagain switch on the electronic switch 2, that is, to reset the drivecircuit 3, only after the signal level of the input signal S_(IN) haschanged from the on-level to the off-level and back from the off-levelto the on-level. In the example shown, the signal level of the inputsignal S_(IN) changes to the off-level at time instance t2 and back tothe on-level at time instance t3, wherein the electronic switch 2 isagain switched on at time instance t3. According to one example, thedrive circuit 3 is reset only if the off-level of the input signalS_(IN) prevails for longer than a predefined time period before theinput signal S_(IN) changes to the on-level. That is, in the exampleshown in FIG. 3, the drive circuit is reset only if there is thepredefined time period between time instances t2 and t3.

FIG. 4 shows one example of a drive circuit 3 configured to drive theelectronic switch 2 in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG.3. In this example, the drive circuit 3 includes a latch 31, forexample, an SR flip flop and a logic gate 32, for example, an AND gate.The SR flip flop receives the first protection signal S4 at a set inputS, and the logic gate receives the input signal S_(IN) and an outputsignal from an inverting output Q′ of the flip flop 31. The input signalS_(IN) is received by a reset input R of the flip flop 31. The flip flop31 is set when the protection signal S4 changes from the enable level tothe disable level (protection level) and is not reset until the inputsignal S_(IN) changes from the off-level to the on-level. When theflip-flop 31 is set it changes the signal level of the drive signal S3to the off-level via the logic gate 32 until the flip-flop is reset.After the flip-flop 31 has been reset, the drive signal S3 is againgoverned by the input signal S_(IN) until the flip-flop 31 is set again.

According to another example, the first control circuit 1, additionallyto the first protection circuit 4, includes at least one furtherprotection circuit. FIG. 5 shows one example of the first controlcircuit 1 that includes four additional protection circuits, a secondprotection circuit 52, a third protection circuit 53, a fourthprotection circuit 54, and a fifth protection circuit 55. Theseprotection circuits are independent so it is not necessary to implementall of these protection circuits 52-55. That is, the control circuit 1could be implemented to have only one, two, or three of these additionalprotection circuits 52-55.

According to one example, the second protection circuit 52, which mayalso be referred to as overtemperature protection circuit, is configuredto measure a temperature of the electronic switch 2 and generate asecond protection signal S52 received by the drive circuit 3 based onthe measured temperature. According to one example, the secondprotection circuit 52 is configured to generate the second protectionsignal S52 to have a protection level (disable level) when the measuredtemperature is above a predefined overtemperature threshold, and anenable level when the measured temperature is below the overtemperaturethreshold. The protection level of the second protection signal S52causes the drive circuit 3 to switch off the electronic switch 2, andthe enable level causes the drive circuit 3 to drive the electronicswitch 2 based on the input signal S_(IN).

According to one example, the third protection circuit 53, which mayalso be referred to as overcurrent protection circuit, is configured tomonitor the load current I_(L) in order to detect an overcurrent andgenerate a third protection signal S53 based on this detection. In thisexample, the third protection circuit 53 receives the currentmeasurement signal CS and is configured to compare the currentmeasurement signal CS with an overcurrent threshold. The thirdprotection circuit 53 is configured to generate a protection level ofthe third protection signal S53 when the current measurement signal CSis higher than the over current threshold, and an enable level of thethird protection signal S53 when the current measurement signal CS isbelow the overcurrent threshold. The protection level of the thirdprotection signal S53 causes the drive circuit 3 to switch off theelectronic switch 2, and the enable level causes the drive circuit 3 todrive the electronic switch 2 based on the input signal S_(IN).

According to one example, the fourth protection circuit 54, which mayalso be referred to as overvoltage protection circuit, is configured tomeasure a load path voltage V2 of the electronic switch 2 and generate afourth protection signal S54 based on the measured load path voltage V2.According to one example, the fourth protection circuit 54 is configuredto generate a protection level of the fourth protection signal S54 whenthe measured load path voltage V2 is higher than a predefinedovervoltage threshold, and to generate an enable level of the fourthprotection signal S54 when the measured load path voltage V2 is belowthe overvoltage threshold. A protection level of the fourth protectionsignal S54 causes the drive circuit 3 to switch on the electronic switch2, and an enable level causes the drive circuit 3 to drive theelectronic switch 2 based on the input signal S_(IN). Switching on theelectronic switch 2 at high voltages can protect the electronic switch 2from being damaged or even destroyed.

According to one example, the fifth protection circuit 55, which mayalso be referred to as temperature difference protection circuit, isconfigured to generate a fifth protection signal based on a temperaturedifference between a temperature in the electronic switch 2 and atemperature in the control circuit 1. According to one example, thefifth protection circuit 55 is configured to generate a protection levelof the fifth protection signal S55 when the temperature difference ishigher than a predefined temperature difference threshold. The fifthprotection circuit 55 may include a first temperature sensor in theelectronic switch 2 and a second temperature sensor in the controlcircuit 1 to measure the temperature in the electronic switch 2 and thecontrol circuit 1, respectively. According to one example, theovertemperature protection circuit 52 and the temperature differenceprotection circuit 52 may use the same temperature sensor.

According to one example, the drive circuit 3 is configured to operatethe electronic switch 2 based on each of the protection signals S4,S52-S55 in the same way as explained before with reference to FIG. 3.That is, the drive circuit 3 can be configured, after the electronicswitch 2 has been switched off due to one of the protection signals S4,S52-S54, to again switch on the electronic switch 2 only after the inputsignal S_(IN) has changed to the off-level and back to the on-level.

FIG. 6 shows one example of the electronic switch 2. In this example,the electronic switch 2 includes a first transistor 25, which isreferred to as load transistor in the following, and a second transistor26, which is referred to as sense transistor in the following. The loadtransistor 25 and the sense transistor 26 are transistors of the sametransistor type. Just for the purpose of illustration, the loadtransistor 25 and the sense transistor 26 are MOSFETs, in particularn-type MOSFETs, in the example shown in FIG. 6. The load transistor 25has a load path (drain-source path) between a drain node D and a sourcenode S. The load path of the load transistor 25 forms the load path ofthe electronic switch 2. That is, the load path of the load transistor25 is connected between the first load node 22 and the second load node23 of the electronic switch 2. A gate node G of the load transistor 25is connected to the control node 21 of the electronic switch 2. A gatenode G of the second transistor 26 is connected to the control node 21,and a drain node D of the second transistor 26 is connected to the drainnode D of the first transistor 25. Referring to the above, a MOSFET,such as the load transistor 25 and the sense transistor 26, is a voltagecontrolled semiconductor device that is driven dependent on a drivevoltage (gate-source voltage) received between the gate node G and thesource node S. When the first transistor 25 is in the on-state afterreceiving a drive voltage that is above a threshold voltage of the firsttransistor 25 from the control circuit 1, the load transistor 25conducts a load current I_(L). In the electronic switch 2 shown in FIG.6, the sense transistor 26 is operated in the same operating point asthe first transistor 25, so that a sense current I_(S) through thesecond transistor 26 is proportional to the load current I_(L). Aproportionality factor between the load current I_(L) and the sensecurrent I_(S) is given by a ratio between a size of the load transistor25 and a size of the sense transistor 26. According to one example, eachof the load transistor 25 and the sense transistor 26 includes aplurality of transistor cells. In this case, a proportionality factork_(ILIS)=I_(L)/I_(S) between the load current I_(L) and the sensecurrent I_(S) is given by a ratio between the number of transistor cellsn₂₅ of the first transistor 25 and the number of transistor cells n₂₆ ofthe second transistor 26, that is, k_(ILIS)=n₂₅/n₂₆.

In the electronic switch 2 shown in FIG. 6, the second transistor 26 isoperated in the same operating point as the first transistor 25 by aregulation circuit. The regulation circuit includes a variable resistor28 that is controlled by an operational amplifier 27 such that anelectric potential at the source node S of the second transistor 26equals the electric potential at the source node S of the firsttransistor 25. For this, the operational amplifier 27 receives thesource potential of the first transistor 25 and the source potential ofthe second transistor 26 at an input. According to one example, thevariable resistor 28 is a MOSFET, in particular, a p-type MOSFET 28. Inthe electronic switch 2 shown in FIG. 6, the current measurement signalCS equals the sense current I_(S).

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the electronic switch 2 shown in FIG. 6.In this example, the electronic switch 2 includes two or more sensetransistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1). Each of these sense transistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1)has its gate node connected to the control node 21 and its drain nodeconnected to the drain node D of the load transistor 25. Each of thesense transistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1) is operated in the same operation modeas the first transistor 25. For this, a regulation circuit 27 ₁-27_(n1), 28 ₁-28 _(n1) corresponding to the regulation circuit 27, 28shown in FIG. 6, is coupled between the respective source node S of eachsense transistor 26 ₁-26 _(n1) and the source node of the loadtransistor 25. Each of these regulation circuits 27 ₁-27 _(n1), 28 ₁-28_(n1) operates the associated sense transistor 26 ₁-26 _(n1) in the sameoperating point as the load transistor 25, so that sense currentsI_(S1)-I_(Sn1) provided by the individual sense transistors 26 ₁-26_(n1) are proportional to the load current I_(L). An overall sensecurrent I_(S) (which equals the current measurement signal CS) isgenerated from the individual sense currents I_(S1)-I_(Sn1) by aselection circuit 29. This selection circuit receives the individualsense currents I_(S1)-I_(Sn1) and, based on a selection signal S29,passes one or more of the sense currents I_(S1)-I_(Sn1) through to anoutput where the overall sense signal is available. In general, theoverall sense current I_(S) is given by

I _(S)=Σ_(i=0) ^(n1) a _(i) I _(Si)(1)

where a_(i) is either 0 or 1 and is dependent on the selection signalS29. In the electronic switch 2 shown in FIG. 7, the proportionalityfactor k_(ILIS) can be adjusted by the selection signal S29. Accordingto one example, the sense transistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1) have the same size,so that different proportionality factors (k_(ILIS) factors) can beadjusted by varying the number of sense transistors that are coupled tothe output of the selection circuit 29. According to another example,the sense transistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1) have different sizes, so thatdifferent k_(ILIS) factors can be adjusted by varying the number ofsense transistors that are coupled to the output of the selectioncircuit 29 and by selecting which of the sense transistors 26 ₁-26 _(n1)is/are coupled to the output of the selection circuit 29.

FIG. 8 shows one example of the first protection circuit 4 configured togenerate the first protection signal S4 based on the current measurementsignal CS. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first protection circuit4 includes a current-to-voltage converter 41 that receives the currentmeasurement signal CS and generates a measurement voltage V41. Accordingto one example, the current-to-voltage converter 41 includes a resistor411 that receives the current measurement signal CS (which equals thesense current I_(S)), and the measurement voltage V41 is a voltageacross the resistor 411. Optionally, an RC circuit with a capacitor 412and another resistor 413 is connected in parallel with the resistor 411.This RC circuit 412, 413 may serve to filter undesired voltage spikes ofthe measurement voltage V41. If the RC circuit is employed, themeasurement voltage V41 is the voltage across the capacitor 412 of theRC circuit.

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 42 receives the measurement voltageV41 as an ADC input signal and outputs an ADC output signal S42 based onthe input signal V41. A filter 43 receives the ADC output signal S42 andgenerates a filter output signal S43 from the ADC output signal S42. Acomparator circuit 44 receives the filter output signal S43 andgenerates the first protection signal S4 based on the filter outputsignal S43.

FIG. 9 shows one example of the ADC 42. In this example, the ADC 42includes a plurality of comparators 421 ₁-421 _(q). Each of thesecomparators 421 ₁-421 _(q) receives the input signal V41 at a firstinput and a respective reference voltage VREF₁-VREF_(q) at a secondinput. In the present example, the first input is a non-inverting inputand the second input is an inverting input of the respective comparator421 ₁-421 _(q). The reference voltages VREF₁-VREF_(q) are different.According to one example (as shown in FIG. 9), the reference voltagesVREF₁-VREF_(q) are generated using a series circuit with a plurality ofresistors 423 ₁-423 _(q). This series circuit receives a referencevoltage which can be equal to the reference voltage VREF_(q) received byone 421 _(q) of the comparators. The other reference voltagesVREF₁-VREF₄ are available at taps of the series circuit. A sampling andencoding circuit 422 receives comparator signals S421 ₁-S421 _(q) fromthe comparators 421 ₁-421 _(q), samples these comparator signals S421₁-S421 _(q) in accordance with a clock signal CLK, and generates the ADCoutput signal S42 in accordance with the sample values obtained bysampling the comparator signals S421 ₁-S421 _(q). Each of the comparatorsignals S421 ₁-S421 _(q) is available at the output of a respectivecomparator 421 ₁-421 _(q) and indicates whether or not the input signalV41 is higher than the reference voltage VREF₁-VREF_(q) received by therespective comparator 421 ₁-421 _(q).

The reference voltages VREF₁-VREF_(q) define q+1 voltage intervals,<V_(REF1), [V_(REF1), V_(REF2)], [V_(REF2), V_(REF3)], . . . ,[V_(REFq-1), V_(REFq)] and >V_(REFq). The comparator signals S421 ₁-S421_(q) together define a state of the ADC, wherein the ADC can have q+1different states, each associated with one of the voltage intervalsexplained before. The ADC, for example, is in a first state when theinput signal V41 is in the first interval <V_(REF1), in a second statewhen the input signal V41 is in the second interval [V_(REF1),V_(REF2)], and so on. The encoding circuit 422 is configured to map thedifferent states of the ADC 42 to the output signal S42. According toone example, the output signal S42 includes a series S42[k] of digitalwords, with each of these digital words S42[k] representing the state ofthe ADC at one sampling time. The sampling times are defined by theclock signal CLK.

According to one example, the ADC is a linear ADC. In this case, each ofthe reference voltages VREF₁-VREF_(q) is given by i·VREF, where i isselected from 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , q. The sample and encoding circuit422, for example, is configured to generate the digital words S42[k] ofthe output signal S42 such that the digital word represents the voltageinterval which the input signal V41 is in at the sampling time. Thebinary word output by the sampling and encoding circuit 422, forexample, is zero if the input signal V41 is in the first interval (belowV_(REF1)), is 1 if the input signal V41 is in the second interval(higher than \T_(REF1), but lower than V_(REF2)), and so on. In the caseof a linear ADC, the input voltage V41 at the sampling time isapproximately (that is, when a quantization error is neglected),

V41[k]=S42[k]·VREF  (2)

The number of bits of the binary word S42[k] output by the ADC isdependent on the different states the ADC can assume. According to oneexample, the ADC can have sixteen different states. In this case, thebinary word has p=4 (=ld(16), where ld=log₂) bits.

According to another example, the ADC is a logarithmic ADC. In thiscase, each of the reference voltages VREF₁-VREF_(q) is a multiple of thenext lower reference voltage. That is, VREF_(i)=z·VREF_(i-1), where i isselected from 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , q. For example, z=2. In this case,each of the reference voltages VREF₁-VREF_(q) can be expressed asVREF_(i)=2^(i-1)·VREF₁=2^(i-1)·VREF₁.

FIG. 10A shows one example of the characteristic curve of a logarithmicADC. That is, FIG. 10A shows the decimal equivalent of the binary wordS42[k] output by the ADC 42 at a sampling time k dependent on the valueof the input signal V41[k] at the sampling time k. In FIG. 10A, theinput signal is drawn on a logarithmic scale. FIG. 10B shows a sectionof the curve shown in FIG. 10A on a linear scale if z=2. To easeillustration, FIG. 10A shows the characteristic curve of a logarithmicADC with 8 different states and a 3 bit output. This, however, is onlyan example. The characteristic curve of a logarithmic ADC with, forexample, 16 states and a 4 bit can easily be derived from the curveshown in FIG. 10A.

In a logarithmic ADC with a characteristic curve shown in FIG. 10A thebinary word S42[k] output at one sampling time k is associated with theinput signal V41[k] at the sampling time k as follows,

V41[k]=0 if S42[k]=0  (3a)

V41[k]=Z ^(S42[k]-1) ·VREF if S42[k]≠0  (3b)

Thus, if the input signal V41[k] is different from zero, in particularis larger than VREF, S42[k] represents the logarithm of V41[k] to basez. According to one example, z=2. More precisely, as the number of bitsof the ADC output signal S41 is limited (finite), S42[k] represents therounded logarithm of V41[k] to base z.

As the ADC input signal V41 represents the current measurement signal CSand the current measurement signal CS represents the load current I_(L),the ADC output signal S41 represents the load current I_(L). Accordingto one example, the first protection circuit 4 is configured to protectthe wire between the electronic switch 2 and the load Z from beingoverheated. In this example, the filter 43 is configured to approximatethe temperature of the wire based on the samples of the currentmeasurement signal CS provided by the ADC 42. It can be shown that atemperature T_(W) in the cable is given by

T _(W) [k]=(1−α)·T _(W) [k−1]+R _(EL) ·R _(TH) ·I _(L) ² [k]·α  (4a)

where T_(W)[k] is the temperature at one sampling time, T_(W)[k−1] isthe temperature at the preceding sampling time, I_(L) ²[k] is the squareof the load current I_(L) at the sampling time, R_(EL) is the electricresistance of the wire and R_(TH) is the thermal resistance of the wire.1−α is between 0 and 1 and considers a duration of one sampling period,that is, a time difference between the two sampling times k and k−1 andthe heat radiation of the wire. In general, 1−α decreases as thesampling frequency decreases. Furthermore, the better the wire canradiate energy in form of heat to the environment, the lower 1−α is.According to one example,

$\begin{matrix}{\alpha = {1 - e^{\frac{{- \Delta}\; t}{\tau}}}} & \left( {4b} \right)\end{matrix}$

where Δt is the time difference between the two sampling times k and k−1and τ is a time constant of the cable that defines how fast energyintroduced into the cable is dissipated in form of heat. R_(EL), R_(TH)and τ are constants and dependent on the specific type of wire, thematerial of the wire, the wire diameter, or the like. Applying somemathematical transformations, equation (4a) can be transformed into

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{T_{W}\lbrack k\rbrack}{R_{EL} \cdot R_{TH} \cdot a} = {{\beta \cdot {T_{W}\lbrack k\rbrack}} = {{\left( {1 - a} \right) \cdot {T_{W}\left\lbrack {k - 1} \right\rbrack}} + {{I_{L}^{2}\lbrack k\rbrack}.}}}} & \left( {4c} \right)\end{matrix}$

That is, a weighted temperature β·T_(W)[k] of the wire at sampling timek is only dependent on the temperature at sampling time k−1, the squareof the load current I_(L) at sampling time k, and 1−α. α, R_(EL) andR_(TH) are included in the weighting factor 13.

It should be noted, that T_(W)[k] and T_(W)[k] do not represent absolutetemperatures of the wire, but temperature changes caused by the loadI_(L) flowing through the cable. That is, T_(W)[k] and T_(W)[k] can bezero if the load current I_(L) is zero or if the load current I_(L) hasbeen zero long enough for the energy introduced into the cable by theload current I_(L) to completely dissipate.

FIG. 11 shows one example of the filter 43. The filter shown in FIG. 11is based on the assumption that the ADC 42 is a logarithmic ADCexplained above. That is, the ADC is configured to generate the ADCoutput signal S42 based on comparing the input signal V41 with aplurality of different reference voltages (VREF₁-VREF_(q) in FIG. 9),wherein a ratio between each reference voltage VREF₁ and the next lowerreference voltage VREF_(i-1) is given by z (which is 2, for example). Inthis case, the ADC output signal S42 represents a logarithm of the loadcurrent I_(L). As the logarithm of the load current is proportional tothe logarithm of the square of the load current (log_(z)(I_(L)²)=2·log_(z)(I_(L))) the ADC output signal S42 also represents thesquare of the load current I_(L). Thus, when using a logarithmic ADC 42,there is no need to calculate the square of a signal representing theload current I_(L) in the filter 43. This helps to reduce the sizerequired to implement the filter 43 in the electronic circuit.

If the ADC output signal S42 represents the load current I_(L) insteadof the square of the load current I_(L), the square of the signal S42 iscalculated by a calculation unit 434 (illustrated in dashed lines inFIG. 11). However, for the purpose of explanation, it is assumed thatthe ADC output signal S42 represents the logarithm of the load currentI_(L) so that the calculation unit 434 can be omitted.

The filter 43 shown in FIG. 11 is configured to calculate each valueS43[k] of the filter output signal S43 based on the ADC output signalS42 as follows,

S43[k]=(1−α)·S43[k−1]+S42[k]  (5).

In equations (4) and (5) k and k−1 denote discrete time variables(discrete sampling times). Referring to the above, the ADC output signalS42 and the filter output signal S43 each include a sequence of binarywords, wherein a new value is output in each new clock cycle. Accordingto one example, the filter 43 operates in accordance with the same clocksignal CLK that governs sampling the input signal V42, representing thecurrent measurement signal CS in the ADC 42. According to one example, kdenotes a sampling time in one clock cycle and k−1 denotes a samplingtime in a clock cycle directly preceding clock cycle k. Thus, inequation (5), S43[k] denotes the filter value output in one clock cyclek, S43[k−1] denotes the filter value output in the preceding clock cyclek−1, and S42[k] denotes the ADC output value in clock cycle k. Comparingequations (5) and (4c), it can be seen that the filter output signal S43represents the weighted wire temperature β·T_(W)[k] if the filter inputsignal S42[k] represents the square of the load current I_(L).

One example of a filter 43 configured to generate the filter outputsignal S43 in accordance with equation (5) is shown in FIG. 11. Thisfilter 43 includes an adder 431 that receives the ADC output signal S42and the output signal of a feedback loop. The feedback loop includes adelay element 432 and a multiplier 433. The delay element 432 receivesthe filter output signal S43 and delays the filter output signal for oneclock cycle. The multiplier 433 multiplies the delayed filter outputsignal S43 with 1−α so that the output signal of the feedback loopequals (1−α)·S43[k−1]. Of course, the position of the delay element 432and the multiplier 433 in the feedback loop can be changed.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the filter 43 shown in FIG. 11. Insteadof multiplier 433 that multiplies the delayed filter output valueS43[k−1] with 1−α, the filter 43 shown in FIG. 12 includes a multiplier434 that multiplies the delayed filter output value S43[k−1] with α anda subtractor 435 that subtracts the output signal of the multiplier 434from the delayed filter output value S43[n−1]. According to one example,a is 2^(−N), where N is an integer. In this case, the multiplicationperformed by the multiplier 434 can be performed by a simple registershift operation. This is explained with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows one example of the delayed filter output value S43[k−1].Just for the purpose of explanation, it is assumed that the filteroutput values are binary words with twelve bits from which eight bitsrepresent the integer portion, and four bits represent the portion ofthe output value smaller than one. The result of multiplying S43[k−1]with 2^(−N) (where N=4 in the example shown) can be obtained by simplyshifting the bits of S43[k−1] N positions to the right.

FIG. 14 shows a modification of the filter 43 shown in FIG. 12. In thefilter shown in FIG. 14, the delayed output value S43[k−1] is multipliedwith a factor A by a multiplier 436 and subtracted from S43[k−1] onlyonce in B clock cycles. In FIG. 14, this is represented by a switch 437that is closed only once in B clock cycles, that is, when k mod B=0,where k denotes the clock cycle, mod denotes a modulo operation, and Bdenotes how many clock cycles are allowed to pass before the switch 436switches on. Under the assumption that the load current I_(L) does notsignificantly change within B clock cycles, so that S43 is essentiallyconstant over B clock cycles, the filter 43 calculates the output valueS43[k] in accordance with equation (5), where α=A/B. For example,A=2^(−N), so that the multiplication performed by multiplier 436 can berealized by a shift operation explained with reference to FIG. 13.Nevertheless, using the switch 437 allows to have values of a differentfrom 2^(−N).

The filter explained with reference to FIGS. 11, 12 and 14, inparticular in combination with a logarithmic ADC, is capable ofcalculating a weighted temperature of the cable at one sampling time kbased on additions and/or subtractions and does not require amultiplication. In particular, it is not required to multiply the filterinput signal S42[k], which represents the square of the load currentI_(L) when a logarithmic ADC is used, with wire dependent parameterssuch as R_(EL), R_(TH) or α, as implied by equation (4a). Nevertheless,these wire dependent parameters are included in the filter output signalS43[k] which represents a weighted temperature of the wire. Morespecifically, the filter output signal S43[k] represents a weightedincrease of the temperature resulting from a current flowing through thewire.

One way of operation of the filter 43 is shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 showstiming diagrams of the load current I_(L) and the filter output signalS43. By virtue of the integrating characteristic of the filter 43, thefilter output signal S43 follows the load current I_(L). When the loadcurrent I_(L) is constant over a certain time period, the filter outputsignal S43 approaches a signal level associated with the respectivelevel of the load current I_(L). In the example shown in FIG. 15,variations of the signal level of the filter output signal S43 resultfrom variations of the load current I_(L) over the time periodillustrated in FIG. 15. The hatched region in the timing diagram shownin FIG. 15 represents a time period where the electronic switch 2switches on and off frequently. In this time period, the filter outputsignal S43 is substantially constant. FIG. 15 shows a normal operationmode of the electronic circuit and the load Z connected thereto. In thisexample, the load current has a predefined current level when theelectronic switch 2 is switched on and is zero when the electronicswitch 2 is switched off. The temperature of the wire which isrepresented by the filter output signal varies dependent on the loadcurrent I_(L), in particular dependent on a current-time characteristicof the load current, that is, dependent on the current level and howlong a certain level prevails. When the electronic switch 2 is switchedoff long enough for the wire to dissipate the thermal energy introducedby the load current I_(L) the temperature of the wire equals the ambienttemperature of the wire. It should be noted that the ambient temperatureis not considered in the filter output signal S43. The filter outputsignal S43 only represents temperature changes in the wire caused byintroducing energy through the load current I_(L) and dissipating energyby heat radiation.

The timing diagrams shown in FIG. 15 represent a scenario in which theelectronic switch 2 was switched off long enough for the filter outputsignal S43 to decrease to a start value S43 ₀, or in which the loadcurrent I_(L) was below a current level represented by the lowestreference voltage (VREF₁ in FIG. 9, for example) of the ADC 43 longenough for the filter output signal S43 to stay on the start value ordecrease to the start value S430. The start value, for example, is zero.When the electronic switch 2 switches on the filter output signalincreases and, if the current prevails long enough, approximates asignal level defined by the current level. The rate at which the filteroutput signal S43 increases and the signal level it approximates after acertain time is dependent on the current level of the load currentI_(L).

FIG. 16 shows one example of the comparator circuit 44. In this example,the comparator circuit 44 includes a (digital) comparator 441 thatreceives the filter output signal S43 and a threshold signal S43 _(TH).Referring to the above, the filter output signal S43 representstemperature changes that result from the load current I_(L) and fromheat being dissipated. An ambient temperature of the wire is notconsidered in the filter output signal S43. The absolute temperature ofthe wire is given by the ambient temperature plus the temperaturedifference represented by the filter output signal S43. The thresholdsignal S43 _(TH) represents a maximum temperature difference that isallowed to occur in the cable as a result of the load current I_(L). Ifthe filter output signal S43 reaches the temperature threshold S43_(TH), the comparator circuit 4 generates a protection level (disablelevel) of the first protection signal S4 in order to switch off theelectronic switch. According to one example, the threshold signal S43_(TH) represents a difference between a maximum temperature the wire canwithstand and the maximum ambient temperature that might occur in theambient of the wire in a normal operation scenario. In this example, thewire may reach the maximum temperature only if the ambient temperatureis at its maximum. If the ambient temperature is below the maximum, theabsolute temperature of the wire is below the maximum temperature whenthe filter output signal S43 reaches the threshold S43 _(TH) and thecomparator circuit 44 switches off the electronic switch 2. In theexample shown in FIG. 16, the comparator 441 receives the filter outputsignal S43 at a non-inverting input and the threshold signal S43 _(TH)at an inverting input. The first protection signal S4 is available at anoutput of the comparator 441.

Referring to the above, the filter output signal S43[k] represents aweighted sum of the filter temperature T_(W)[k], whereas the weightingfactor β includes wire parameters, such as R_(EL), R_(TH) and α. Thus,according to one example, the threshold signal S43 _(TH) is alsodependent on these wire parameters, so that S43 _(TH) can be differentfor different types of wires.

FIG. 17 shows two examples that illustrate the protective functionprovided by the first protection circuit 4. FIG. 17 shows characteristiccurves of wires with different cross sections. In particular, FIG. 17shows I²t curves of the individual wires. Each of these curvesrepresents a plurality of currents and times associated with theindividual currents. The time associated with one current is the timethe wire can withstand the respective current without being damaged ordestroyed. The individual curves are based on the formula I² _(L)·t=c,where c is a constant which is dependent on the cross sectional area ofthe respective wire and the temperature change the wire can withstand.Basically, the time a wire can withstand a certain current increases asthe cross sectional area increases. In FIG. 17, the curve labelled with111 represents the characteristic curve of a first wire with a firstcross sectional area and the curve labelled with 121 represents thecharacteristic curve of a second wire with a second cross sectional arealarger than the first cross sectional area. Curve 110, drawn in a dashedline, illustrates the trip curve of a first protection circuit 4 adaptedto the first wire, and curve 120, drawn in a dashed line, illustratesthe trip curve of a first protection circuit 4 adapted to the secondwire. Referring to the above, the first protection circuit 4 can beadapted to protect a specific wire by adapting a in the filter 43 andS43 _(TH) in the comparator circuit 44. The “trip curve” represents aplurality of currents and times associated with the individual currents,whereas the time associated with a current is the time the firstprotection circuit 4 allows the respective current to flow beforeswitching off the electronic switch 2 via the drive circuit 3.

As can be seen from FIG. 17, the first protection circuit 4 protects therespective wire. That is, the first protection circuit 4 switches offthe first electronic switch 2 in each case before a certain currentflows long enough to reach the time period associated with this currentby the characteristic curve of the wire.

In FIG. 17, curve 130 represents the trip curve of the overcurrentprotection circuit 53. The overcurrent protection circuit 53 switchesoff the first electronic switch in each case when the load currentreaches a maximum current level I_(LMAX). When the first protectioncircuit 4 and the overcurrent protection circuit 53 are active, thefirst protection circuit 4 can switch off the electronic switch 2 atcurrents lower than the maximum current level I_(LMAX) if these currentsflow longer than allowed (that is, longer than defined by the respectivetrip curve), and the overcurrent protection circuit 53 prevents the loadcurrent I_(L) from rising above the maximum current level I_(LMAX).

Referring to the above, the ADC 42 samples the input signal V42 thatrepresents the current measurement signal CS at sampling times governedby the clock signal CLK. The ADC output signal S42 is a goodrepresentation of the current measurement signal CS and, therefore, theload current I_(L) if a frequency of the load current I_(L) is less thanhalf the sampling frequency. This is in accordance with the Nyquisttheorem. If, however, a frequency of the load current I_(L) is more thanhalf of the sampling frequency, situations may occur where the ADCoutput signal S42 does not correctly represent the load current I_(L).This is explained with reference to FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 shows a timing diagram of the load current I_(L) according toone example. In this example, the load current I_(L) is a periodicsignal with a frequency that equals the sampling frequency. Furthermore,FIG. 18 shows a timing diagram of the clock signal CLK that governssampling of the current measurement signal CS in the ADC 42. Just forthe purpose of explanation, it is assumed that the current measurementsignal CS is sampled by the ADC 42 each time signal pulses of the clocksignal CLK have a rising edge. Sample values obtained by this areillustrated by circle symbols in FIG. 18. In the present example, aphase shift between the oscillating load current I_(L) and the clocksignal CLK is such that the load current I_(L) is sampled when the loadcurrent I_(L) has a local minimum. In this case, a load currentrepresented by the ADC output signal S42 is smaller than an average loadcurrent through the cable. If the phase shift of the clock signal CLKrelative to the load current I_(L), for example, is such that thecurrent measurement signal CS is sampled each time the signal level isclose to a local maximum, the load current I_(L) represented by the ADCoutput signal S42 is higher than the average load current. In FIG. 18,this is illustrated by the signal pulses drawn in dashed lines and thesample values illustrated by square symbols. This problem can be avoidedby increasing the sampling frequency. Increasing the sampling frequency,however, requires processing more sample values in a predefined timeperiod.

One approach that does not increase the number of samples to beprocessed in a predefined time period, but resolves the problem outlinedabove is shown in FIG. 19. In this example, there is a sequence oftemporally successive sampling periods which may have the same length.The current measurement signal CS (represented by the ADC input signalV42) is sampled once in each of these sampling periods. However,sampling times within the individual sampling periods are randomly orpseudo-randomly selected. In FIG. 19 this is illustrated by signalpulses of a clock signal CLK′ having different time positions within theindividual sampling periods. In this example, the individual samplingperiods each have a duration T. The “time position” of a signal pulse(clock pulse) is a time position relative to a beginning or an end ofthe respective sampling period. Each of these sampling periods isrepresented by its duration T in FIG. 19. By randomly or pseudo-randomlyselecting the sampling times within the individual sampling periods T,different sample values of the current measurement signal CS areobtained, even if the current measurement signal CS has a frequency thatequals the frequency at which the individual sampling periods begin. Thesample values obtained by using a clock signal CLK′ as shown in FIG. 19are illustrated by horizontal lines in FIG. 18. As can be seen, thesesample values are obtained at different positions of one period of thecurrent measurement signal CS, so that those sample values provide abetter representation of the current measurement signal CS.

According to one example, a modified clock signal CLK′ of the type shownin FIG. 19 is obtained from a periodic clock signal CLK shown in FIG. 18by subdividing each sampling period T into n3 sub-periods, wherein aduration of each of these sub-periods is given by T/n3. In each samplingperiod T, one of these sub-periods is randomly or pseudo-randomlyselected and a signal pulse is generated in the respective sub-period.FIG. 20 shows a circuit 45 configured to generate the clock signal CLK′in this way.

This circuit 45, for example, is included in the first protectioncircuit 4 and receives the clock signal CLK and provides the modifiedclock signal to the ADC 42. In this case, the sampling and encodingcircuit 422 shown in FIG. 9 receives the modified clock signal CLK′instead of the clock signal CLK. The filter 43 may still be operatedbased on the clock signal CLK.

Referring to FIG. 20, the circuit 45 includes a series (chain) of delayelements 451 ₁-451 _(n3) which operate at n3 times the frequency of theclock signal CLK. These delay elements are connected in series.Operating the delay elements 451 ₁-454 ₃ at n3 times the frequency ofthe clock signal CLK means that a signal pulse of the clock signal CLKreceived by a first one 451 ₁ of the delay elements “travels” throughthe series of delay elements at n3 times the frequency of the clocksignal CLK. That is, the signal pulse is output by the first delayelement 451 ₁ at T/n3 after it was input into the chain of delayelements, is output by a second one 451 ₂ of the delay elements at 2T/n3after it was received at the input, and so on. This is illustrated inFIG. 21 where timing diagrams of the clock signal CLK and output signalsof the individual delay elements are illustrated in one period T of theclock signal.

The circuit 45 further includes a plurality of logic gates 454 ₀-454_(n3) which are, for example, AND gates. One 454 ₀ of these logic gatesreceives the clock signal CLK and each of the other ones 454 ₁-454 _(n3)of these logic gates receives the output signal S451 ₁-S451 _(n3) of arespective delay element 451 ₁-454 ₃ and one bit of a selection signalS453. The selection signal S453 is generated by an encoder based on arandom or pseudo random signal S452 generated by a signal generator 452.The random or pseudo random signal S452, for example, includes asequence of binary words, wherein one binary word is output in eachsampling period and defines the sub-period in which the signal pulse isto be generated. If, for example, one sampling period is subdivided into8 (=n3+1) sub periods, the binary words of the signal S452 can have 3bits. In general, if one sampling period is subdivided into n3+1sub-periods, the binary words output by the signal generator 452 have atleast log₂(n3+1) bits.

The encoder 453, based on each binary word received from the signalgenerator 452, generates a respective binary word with n3+1 bits of theselection signal S453. Each of these n3+1 bits is received by arespective logic gate 454 ₀-454 _(n3). This binary word in each clockcycle selects either the clock signal CLK or one of the output signals451 ₁-451 _(n3) of the delay elements 451 ₁-451 _(n3) to be the modifiedclock signal CLK′, wherein the selection may change from clock cycle tocycle. According to one example, the encoder 453 generates the binaryword such that only one of these bits is “1” and the other bits are “0”.The output signal received by the AND gate that receives the “1” in oneclock cycle is the modified clock signal CLK′ in this clock cycle. Themodified clock signal CLK′ is output by another logic gate 455 that iscoupled to outputs of the logic gates 454 ₀-454 _(n3). The other logicgate 455 is an OR gate, for example.

According to one example, the signal generator 452 is a pseudo-randomsignal generator and includes a linear feedback shift register (LFSR).According to one example, the signal generator receives the clock signalCLK and generates a new pseudo-random binary word in each clock cycle.Output values of an LFSR are not random. In particular, there can be acorrelation between several successive output values. According to oneexample, in order to avoid a correlation between successive outputvalues received by the encoder 453, the LFSR receives a clock signalwith a frequency higher than the frequency of the clock signal CLK andonly every m-th output value of the LFSR is used to generate theselection signal S453. According to one example, m is 5, 7 or higherthan 7. Alternatively, the encoder uses only m-th output value receivedfrom the signal generator 452 to generate the modified clock signalCLK′.

According to one example, the control circuit 1 and, therefore, theelectronic circuit can operate in at least two different operationmodes. According to one example, the at least two different operationmodes include a first operation mode and a second operation mode.According to one example, a set of functions performed by the controlcircuit 1 in the second operation mode is reduced as compared to a setof functions performed by the control circuit 1 in the first operationmode. According to one example, the control circuit 1 is configured toperform a set of basic functions in the second operation mode, and isconfigured to perform the set of basic functions and at least oneadditional function in the first operation mode. Thus, power consumptionof the control circuit 1 in the second operation mode is lower than inthe first operation mode.

According to one example, the set of basic functions of the controlcircuit 1 includes driving the electronic switch 2 based on the inputsignal S_(IN), monitoring the load current I_(L) and at least one ofgenerating the overtemperature protection signal S52 and generating theovercurrent protection signal S53. According to one example, the atleast one additional function includes generating the first protectionsignal (wire protection signal) S4. In the following, the firstoperation mode is also referred to as wire protection mode, and thesecond operation mode is also referred to as idle mode.

FIG. 22 shows one example of the control circuit 1 that is configured tooperate in one of at least two different operation modes. In thisexample, the control circuit 1 includes an operation mode controller 6that is configured to select the respective operation mode. According toone example, the control circuit 1 enters the second operation mode atleast dependent on the load current I_(L), in particular, when the loadcurrent I_(L) falls below a predefined current threshold. This currentthreshold is referred to as idle mode threshold in the following.According to one example, the operation mode controller 6 usesadditional criteria to enter the second operation mode. These criteriainclude, for example, the output signal S43 of the filter 43 (not shownin FIG. 22) included in the first protection circuit 4, a temperaturedifference between a temperature in the electronic switch 2 and atemperature in the control circuit 1, and an ambient temperature. Asignal representing the temperature difference is referred to as dT inFIG. 22, and a signal representing the ambient temperature is referredto as aT in FIG. 22. According to one example, the control circuitenters the second operation mode only if at least one of the followingcriteria is met: (a) the filter output signal S43 is zero; (b) atemperature difference dT between the temperature in the electronicswitch 2 and the temperature in the control circuit 1 is below apredefined temperature threshold; (c) the ambient temperature is below apredefined temperature threshold; (d) an on-resistance of the electronicswitch 2 is higher than a predefined resistance threshold. According toone example, the temperature difference dT is measured using thetemperature sensor in the overtemperature detection circuit 52 andanother temperature sensor (not shown in the drawings) in the controlcircuit 1. According to one example, the ambient temperature is measuredby the temperature sensor in the control circuit 1 or by the temperaturesensor in the overtemperature protection circuit. The on-resistance ofthe electronic circuit 2 is the electric resistance of the electronicswitch in the on-state. The on-resistance is given by the load pathvoltage V2 of the electronic switch 2 in the on-state divided throughthe load current, R_(ON)=V2/I_(L). According to one example, the controlcircuit 1 is configured to calculate the on-resistance R_(ON) based onthe load path voltage V2 measured by the overvoltage protection circuitand the current sense signal CS. If the on-resistance R_(ON) is belowthe predefined resistance threshold this may indicate that theelectronic switch 2 is damaged so that the control circuit 1 does notenter the idle mode.

The operation mode controller 6 may receive the current measurementsignal CS or the output signal S42 from the ADC 42 (see FIG. 8) in thefirst protection circuit 4 to monitor the load current I_(L) and operatethe control circuit 1 in one of the first and second operation modebased on this signal S42 or CS. According to one example, the operationmode controller 6 generates a status signal S_(IDLE) that indicateswhether the control circuit 1 is in the idle mode or the wire protectionmode. This status signal is also referred to as internal status signalin the following. A status circuit 7 is configured to receive theinternal status signal S_(IDLE) and output a status signal S_(STATUS) atan output pin P_(STATUS) of the control circuit 1. Besides the internalstatus signal S_(IDLE) the status circuit 7 receives the ADC outputsignal S42 from the ADC 42 (not shown in FIG. 22) in the firstprotection circuit (wire protection circuit) 4. The ADC 42 can be alinear ADC or a logarithmic ADC.

According to one example, the status circuit 7 is configured to generatethe status signal S_(STATUS) such that the status signal S_(STATUS) hasa wake up pulse when the operation mode changes from the second mode tothe first mode and, after the wake up pulse, is based on the ADC outputsignal S42. This is illustrated in FIG. 23 which shows timing diagramsof the load current I_(L), the internal status signal S_(IDLE) and theexternal status signal S_(STATUS). According to one example, theoperation mode changes from the second operation mode to the firstoperation mode when the load current I_(L) rises above a predefinedcurrent threshold I_(L-TH). According to one example (shown in FIG. 23)the status circuit operates in clocked fashion, as illustrated by theclock cycles T in FIG. 23. In this example, the status circuit 7generates the wake up pulse in the clock cycle that follows the clockcycle in which the load current crosses the threshold I_(L-TH).Furthermore, the internal status signal S_(IDLE) changes from a signallevel indicating that the control circuit 1 is in the idle mode to asignal level indicating that the control circuit 1 is in the wireprotection mode at the beginning of the next clock cycle after the loadcurrent I_(L) has crossed the threshold I_(L-TH). Just for the purposeof explanation, the idle mode is represented by a high signal level andthe wire protection mode is represented by a low signal level of theinternal status signal S_(IDLE) in the example shown in FIG. 23.

When the internal status signal S_(IDLE) indicates that the operationmode has changed to the wire protection mode, the status signal 7generates a wake up pulse. According to one example, this wake up pulseis used to “wake up” a microcontroller which, for example, generates theinput signal S_(IN) of the control circuit 1. After the wake up pulse,the status circuit 7 passes through the ADC output signal S42 to thestatus output P_(STATUS). Using the ADC output signal S42 themicrocontroller, for example, may perform an external protectivefunction. An “external protective function” is a protective functionperformed by an external circuit, such as a microprocessor. Based onthis external protective function, the microcontroller may switch offthe electronic switch 2 by generating an off-level of the input signalS_(IN). According to one example, the wake up pulse has a signal levelsuitable to be detected by the microprocessor in the sleep mode.

FIG. 24 shows a modification of the control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 22.In this control circuit 1, the status circuit 7 is configured to receivean enable signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE) via another input node P_(ST)_(_) _(ENABLE). This enable signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE) is generated,for example, by the external circuit (not shown) that receives thestatus signal S_(STATUS). In this example, the status circuit 7 isconfigured to output a status information via the status signalS_(STATUS) in the idle mode and the wire protection mode only uponrequest by the enable signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE). This is illustratedin FIG. 25 where timing diagrams of the load current I_(L), the externalstatus signal S_(STATUS), the internal status signal S_(IDLE), and theenable signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE) are shown. Referring to FIG. 25, theenable signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE) can have two signal levels, a firstlevel that enables the status circuit 7 to output a status information,and a second level that disables a status circuit 7 to output the statusinformation. Just for the purpose of illustration, the level thatenables the status circuit 7 is a high level and the level that disablesthe status circuit 7 is a low level in the example shown in FIG. 25.Referring to FIG. 25, if enabled by the enable signal S_(ST) _(_)_(ENABLE) in the idle mode, the status circuit 7 outputs a signal pulseindicating that the control circuit 1 is in the idle mode. This signalpulse is different from the wake up pulse. According to one example alevel of the signal pulse indicating the idle mode is lower than a levelof the wake up pulse. If enabled by the enable signal S_(ST) _(_)_(ENABLE) in the wire protection mode, the status circuit 7 outputs theADC output signal S42 as the status information. Independent of thesignal level of the status signal S_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE), the statuscircuit 7 outputs the wake up pulse when the control circuit 1 changesfrom the idle mode to the wire protection mode. This change isrepresented by the internal status signal S_(IDLE) changing its signallevel.

According to one example, the proportionality factor k_(ILIS) isdifferent in the idle mode and the wire protection mode. According toone example, k_(ILIS) is smaller in the idle mode than the wireprotection mode, so that at a given signal level of the load currentI_(L), the sense current I_(S) (which can be equal the currentmeasurement signal CS) and, therefore, the ADC output signal is higherin the idle mode than the wire protection mode. Thus, the smallercurrents occurring in the idle mode can be more precisely measured.Varying the proportionality factor dependent on the operation mode isillustrated in FIG. 24 by the operation mode controller 6 outputting thecontrol signal S29 that, referring to FIG. 7, adjusts theproportionality factor k_(ILIS). The change of the proportionalityfactor k_(ILIS) when the control circuit changes from the secondoperation mode to the first operation mode is schematically illustratedin FIG. 25.

Referring to the above, one or more of the functions that the controlcircuit 1 has in the wire protection mode can be deactivated in the idlemode in order to reduce the power consumption of the control circuit 1in the idle mode as compared to the wire protection mode. Referring toFIG. 24, the control circuit 1 can include a power supply circuit 54that is connected between the supply nodes for the positive supplypotential V_(BAT) and ground potential GND. This power supply circuit 54is configured to generate supply voltages to the individual functionalblocks of the control circuit 1 based on the supply voltage availablebetween the supply nodes. According to one example, the operation modecontroller 6, by controlling the power supply circuit 54, is configuredto keep activated some of the functional blocks in the idle mode.

According to one example, the control circuit 1, besides the firstoperation mode (wire protection mode) and the second operation mode(idle mode), can operate in further operation modes. Some of thesefurther operation modes are explained with reference to FIG. 26 below.FIG. 26 shows a modification of the control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 22,the status enable input P_(ST) _(_) _(ENABLE) is optional and,therefore, illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 26. The control circuit 1shown in FIG. 26 includes a further input P_(CC) which is referred to ascapacitive charging input in the following. This input P_(CC) is coupledto the operation mode controller 6 and serves to operate the controlcircuit 1 in a third operation mode, which is referred to as capacitivecharging mode in the following. In the idle mode or the wire protectionmode explained before, the overcurrent protection circuit 53 switchesoff the electronic switch 2 when the load current I_(L) reaches apredefined overcurrent threshold. When, for example, the load Z is acapacitive load that has been discharged before the electronic switch 2switches on, a high inrush current can flow when the electronic switch 2switches on, so that the load current I_(L) may reach the overcurrentthreshold before the capacitive load has been charged and the loadcurrent I_(L) again decreases. Such operation of the control circuit 1in the idle mode or the wire protection mode is illustrated in FIG. 27A.

FIG. 27A shows timing diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), the loadcurrent I_(L), the drive signal S3, and a capacitive charging signalS_(CC) received at the input P_(CC). In the idle mode or the wireprotection mode, the capacitive charging signal S_(CC) has a signallevel indicating that the control circuit 1 is not to be operated in thecapacitive charging mode. Just for the purpose of explanation, thissignal level is a low level in the example shown in FIG. 27A. As can beseen from FIG. 27A, in the wire protection mode or the idle mode, thecontrol circuit 1 switches off the electronic switch 2 when the loadcurrent I_(L) reaches an overcurrent threshold OC.

FIG. 27B shows timing diagrams of the same signals shown in FIG. 27A inthe capacitive charging mode. In this operation mode, the capacitivecharging signal S_(CC) has a signal level indicating that it is desiredto operate the control circuit 1 in the capacitive charging mode. Justfor the purpose of explanation, this signal level is a high level in theexample shown in FIG. 27B. In the capacitive charging mode, the controlcircuit 1 is configured to regulate the load current I_(L) to a currentthreshold OL. This current threshold OL can be the overcurrent thresholdOC below.

To control the load current I_(L), the control circuit 1 may include aregulator 8, shown in FIG. 26. This regulator 8 is connected between thecontrol node 21 and the second load node 23 and is configured toregulate the drive voltage, which is the gate-source voltage in aMOSFET, dependent on the load current I_(L). To obtain an information onthe load current I_(L) the regulator 8 either receives the currentmeasurement signal CS (as shown) or the output signal S42 of the ADC inthe first protection circuit 4. The regulator 8 is configured toregulate the drive voltage such that the load current I_(L) equals thedesired current level in the capacitive charging mode. According to oneexample, the regulator 8 is activated by the operation controller 6 whenthe load current I_(L) has reached the current threshold OL. For this,the operation mode controller 6 receives the current measurement signalor the output signal S42 of the ADC. When the regulator 8 is active itregulates the drive voltage V_(GS) of the electronic switch such thatthe load current is limited to the current threshold OL.

According to one example, the control circuit 1 is configured to protectdifferent types of wires in the wire protection mode. In this case, thecontrol circuit 1 includes another input P_(W) which is referred to aswire type input in the following. A signal S_(W) received at the wiretype input P_(W) adjusts the first protection circuit 4 to therespective type of wire represented by the signal S_(W). In particular,the signal S_(W) may adjust the parameter a in the filter 43 and/or thethreshold signal S43 _(TH) in the comparator circuit 44 in the wayexplained above.

According to one example, the control circuit 1 is configured to monitorthe load current I_(L) when the load current is below the idle modethreshold. “To monitor” may include to compare the load current I_(L)with a leakage current threshold that is below the idle mode thresholdand different from zero. Comparing the load current with a leakagecurrent threshold may include comparing the current sense signal CS witha respective threshold. According to one example, the control circuit 1is configured to output a signal indicating that there is an excessiveleakage current when a load current I_(L) higher than the leakagecurrent threshold has been detected for longer than a predefined timeperiod. According to one example, this signal is output via the statusoutput P_(STATUS). According to one example, the threshold that iscompared with the current sense signal CS to generate the excessiveleakage current signal is adjustable. According to another example, thisthreshold is fixed, but the control circuit 1 is configured to adjustthe k_(ILIS) factor so that current level of the leakage current thattriggers generation of the excessive leakage current signal can beadjusted via the k_(ILIS) factor.

FIG. 28 shows a control circuit 1 according to another example. Besidesthe first operation mode (wire protection mode) and the second operationmode (idle mode), the control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 28 can be operatedin another operation mode, which is referred to as test mode in thefollowing. For this, the control circuit 1 includes an input pinP_(TEST), which is referred to as test pin in the following. Via thetest pin P_(TEST), the control circuit 1 is configured to receive a testsignal S_(TEST). The test signal S_(TEST) indicates whether the controlcircuit 1 is to be operated in the test mode. According to one example,several functions of the control circuit 1 can be tested in the testmode. In this example, the test signal S_(TEST) indicates that it isdesired to test the control circuit 1 and which of the functions are tobe tested. The control circuit 1 shown in FIG. 28 includes the statusoutput P_(STATUS) explained with reference to FIG. 26 before. Via thisstatus output P_(STATUS) the control circuit 1 can output the currentmeasurement signal CS or the ADC output signal S42 in an operation modedifferent from the test mode, such as, for example, the wire protectionmode. This is explained above with reference to FIG. 26. In the controlcircuit 1 shown in FIG. 28 not only the status circuit 7 but also a testcircuit 9 is coupled to the status output P_(STATUS). The test circuit 9receives the current measurement signal CS or the ADC output signal S42(as shown), the input signal S_(IN), and signals from the functionalblocks to be tested.

One example of how the control circuit 1 can operate in the test mode isexplained with reference to FIGS. 29A-29C. These figures show timingdiagrams of the test signal S_(TEST). According to one example, the testsignal S_(TEST) either has a constant level, which is a low level in theexample shown in FIG. 28, or includes periodically occurring signalpulses. The constant level indicates that it is not desired to operatethe control, circuit 1 in the test mode. The signal pulses indicate thatit is desired to operate the control circuit in the test mode. Accordingto one example, different functions can be tested in the test mode. Inthis example, the function to be tested is defined by a frequency atwhich the pulses occur. According to one example, not only the frequencyat which the pulses occur but also their duration varies dependent onthe function that is to be tested. According to one example, theduration of the signal pulses is 50% of one cycle period. Those pulsescan be considered as pulsewidth modulation (PWM) pulses with a dutycycle of 50%.

Just for the purpose of explanation it is assumed that three differentfunctions can be tested in the test mode. FIGS. 29A-29C show examples oftiming diagrams that the test signal S_(TEST) can have in order tosignal the function (function block) to be tested to the operation modecontroller 6. For example, these three different functions or functionblocks include the overcurrent protection circuit 52 and its function,the overtemperature protection circuit 52 and its function, and a deltatemperature function. The delta temperature function compares thetemperature difference dT explained above between the electronic switch2 and the control circuit 1 with a temperature difference threshold. Itshould be noted that these are only examples of functions that can betested. The operations mode controller 6 and the test circuit 9 are notrestricted to testing only these functions.

The test signal S_(TEST), for example, includes signal pulses at a firstfrequency f1, as shown in FIG. 29A, in order to test the overcurrentprotection circuit 53 at a second frequency f2, as shown in FIG. 29B, inorder to test the overtemperature protection circuit 52, and at a thirdfrequency f3, as shown in FIG. 29C, in order to test the dT function.Just for the purpose of explanation, f1=2f2=3f3 in the example shown inFIGS. 29A-29C. In these figures, besides the timing diagrams of the testsignal S_(TEST) the time period in which the control circuit 1 is in thetest mode are indicated.

Referring to the above, the overcurrent protection circuit can be testedin the test mode. The overcurrent protection circuit 53 receives thecurrent measurement signal CS and compares the current measurementsignal CS with an overcurrent threshold. In order to test the functionof the overcurrent protection circuit 53, the operation mode controller6 is configured, in the test mode, to set the overcurrent threshold to alevel that is reached by the load current I_(L) when a rated currentflows through the electronic switch 2. In order to test the overcurrentprotection circuit 53, the electronic switch 2 switches on governed bythe input signal S_(IN), whereas the overcurrent protection circuit 53passes the test when the overcurrent protection circuit 53, in the testmode, generates a protection level of the overcurrent protection signalS53.

According to another example, the control circuit 1 is configured, inthe test mode, to test the overtemperature protection circuit 52. Theovertemperature protection circuit 52 is configured to measure thetemperature of the electronic switch 2 and compare the measuredtemperature with an overtemperature threshold, whereas the overtemperature protection circuit 52 generates a protection level of theovertemperature protection signal S52 when the measured temperature isabove the overtemperature threshold. To test the overtemperatureprotection circuit 52, the electronic switch 2 switches on controlled bythe input signal S_(IN) and the overtemperature threshold is lowered, sothat under normal operation conditions, such as a rated current flowingthrough the electronic switch 2, the measured temperature reaches thelowered threshold. The overtemperature protection circuit 52 passes thetest when the measured temperature reaches the lowered temperaturethreshold so that the overtemperature protection signal S52 has theprotection level during the test mode.

Similarly, to test the temperature difference protection circuit 54, theelectronic switch 2 switches on controlled by the input signal S_(IN)and the temperature difference threshold is lowered, so that undernormal operation conditions, such as a rated current flowing through theelectronic switch 2, the measured temperature difference reaches thelowered threshold. The temperature difference protection circuit 54passes the test when the measured temperature reaches the loweredtemperature threshold so that the temperature difference protectionsignal S54 has the protection level during the test mode.

The test circuit 9 is configured to vary the signal level of the signalS_(STATUS) at the pin P_(STATUS) dependent on the test result. Accordingto one example, the test circuit 9 outputs a fail level when a testfails, and a pass level when a function has been tested successfully.According to one example, different pass levels are output for thedifferent functions to be tested. For example, a first pass level isoutput when the over current protection circuit 53 has been successfullytested, a second pass level is output when the overtemperatureprotection circuit 52 has been successfully tested, and a third passlevel is output if the delta temperature function has been successfullytested. Examples of the fail level and the pass levels are illustratedin FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 shows timing diagrams of signals in test mode. In particular,FIG. 31 shows timing diagrams of the test signal S_(TEST), the inputsignal S_(IN) and the status signal S_(STATUS). The function that istested in certain time periods is also indicated in FIG. 31. Just forthe purpose of illustration, FIG. 31 shows the timing diagrams in twodifferent test scenarios. A first test scenario, which relates totesting the overcurrent protection function, starts when the operationmode controller based on the test signal S_(TEST) has detected which ofthe functions is to be tested. According to one example, the operationmode controller is configured to detect the function that is to betested after one period of the PWM test signal. In the overcurrent testmode the test circuit 9 outputs the first pass level when the inputsignal S_(IN) has an on-level and when the overcurrent protectioncircuit 53 passes the test. When the overcurrent protection circuit 53fails the test, the test circuit 9 outputs the fail level in a timeperiod in which the input signal S_(IN) has the on-level. Equivalently,in the overtemperature test mode the test circuit 9 outputs the secondpass level when the input signal S_(IN) has an on-level and when theovertemperature protection circuit 52 passes the test.

According to one example, as shown in FIG. 31, the test circuit 9outputs a signal level different from zero at the status outputS_(STATUS) that indicates that the control circuit 1 is in test mode.This signal level can be referred to as test level. According to oneexample, the control circuit 1 outputs the test level as soon as thecontrol circuit 1 enters the test mode. This test level is differentfrom the fail level and the pass levels.

In the examples explained above the control circuit 1 includes an inputand is configured to drive the electronic switch 2 based on a signallevel of the input signal S_(IN) received at the input. According toanother example, the input is omitted and the control circuit drives theelectronic switch 2 based on a supply voltage received by the controlcircuit 1. This is explained with reference to FIG. 32 below. Theelectronic circuit shown in FIG. 32 is based on the electronic circuitshown in FIG. 26. However, the concept of driving the electronic switch2 based on the supply voltage instead of an input signal S_(IN) can beapplied to each of the other electronic circuits explained above aswell.

In the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 32, a power supply circuit 54receives the supply voltage. According to one example, the controlcircuit 1 is configured to switch on the electronic switch 2 as soon asthe supply voltage received by the power supply is high enough for thepower supply to power the other circuits, in particular the drivecircuit 3, in the control circuit 1. Equivalently, the control circuit 1is configured to switch off the electronic switch 2 when the supplyvoltage falls below a certain supply threshold.

The protection functions explained above, such as the wire protectionfunction, the overcurrent protection function, or the overtemperatureprotection function, can be implemented in the control circuit in thesame way as explained above. That is, the electronic switch 2 isswitched off when one of the protection signals has the protectionlevel. According to one example, the control circuit 1 maintains theelectronic switch 2 in the off-state after it has been switched offbased on one of the protection signals until the control circuit 1 isreset. In this example, resetting the control circuit 1 includesreducing the supply voltage to below the supply threshold and increasingthe supply voltage back to above the supply threshold. According to oneexample, the control circuit is reset only if the supply voltage isbelow the supply threshold for a predefined time period.

Some of the aspects explained above relate to:

A1. An electronic circuit, including: an electronic switch including aload path; and a control circuit configured to drive the electronicswitch, wherein the control circuit is configured to operate in one of afirst operation mode and a second operation mode based at least on alevel of a load current of the electronic switch, wherein in the firstoperation mode the control circuit is configured to generate a firstprotection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of the loadcurrent and drive the electronic switch based on the first protectionsignal, and wherein the control circuit is configured to generate astatus signal such that the status signal has a wakeup pulse when theoperation mode changes from the second operation mode to the firstoperation mode and, after the wakeup pulse, a signal level representinga level of the load current.

A2. The electronic circuit of clause A1, wherein the control circuit isconfigured, in the first operation mode, to continuously output thesignal level representing the level of the load current at a statusoutput of the electronic circuit.

A3. The electronic circuit of clause A1 or A2, wherein the controlcircuit is configured to receive a polling signal; and in the firstoperation mode, to output the signal level representing the level of theload current only upon request by the polling signal.

A4. The electronic circuit of clause A3, wherein the control circuit isfurther configured, in the second operation mode, to output a statuspulse different from the wakeup pulse upon request by the pollingsignal.

A5. The electronic circuit of one of clauses A1 to A4, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to change operation from the secondoperation mode to the first operation mode when the load current reachesa predefined threshold.

A6. The electronic circuit of one of clauses A1 to A5, wherein thecontrol circuit includes a first protection circuit configured togenerate the first protection signal and including: an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC input signal representingthe load current and to output an ADC output signal that includes asequence of values such that each of the values represents a respectivesample of the ADC input signal; a filter configured to receive the ADCoutput signal and output a filter signal; and a comparator circuitconfigured to generate the first protection signal based on comparingthe filter output signal with a predefined threshold.

A7. The electronic circuit of clause A6, wherein the ADC is alogarithmic ADC configured to generate the ADC output signal such thatthe values of the sequence of values represents the logarithm of arespective sample of the ADC input signal.

A8. The electronic circuit of clause A6, wherein the control circuitbeing configured to output a signal level representing a level of thecurrent through the load path includes the control circuit beingconfigured to output the ADC output signal.

A9. The electronic circuit of one of clauses A1 to A8, wherein thecontrol circuit further includes an input configured to receive an inputsignal, and wherein the control circuit is configured to drive theelectronic switch based on the input signal in both the first operationmode and the second operation mode.

A10. The electronic circuit of one of clauses A1 to A9, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to generate the first protection signal inthe first operation and not in the second operation mode.

A11. The electronic circuit of one of clauses A1 to A10, furtherincluding: a current measurement circuit configured to measure the loadcurrent and provide a current measurement signal proportional to theload current, wherein the control circuit being configured to operatethe electronic circuit in a first operation mode or a second operationmode based on the load current includes the control circuit beingconfigured to operate the electronic circuit in the first operation modeor the second operation mode based on the current measurement signal.

A12. The electronic circuit of clause A11, wherein the control circuitincludes an ADC configured to provide an ADC output signal based on thecurrent measurement signal, and wherein the control circuit beingconfigured to operate in the first operation mode or the secondoperation mode based on the current measurement signal includes thecontrol circuit being configured to operate in the first operation modeor the second operation mode based on the ADC output signal.

A13. The electronic circuit of clause A11, wherein the control circuitis configured to adjust a proportionality factor between the loadcurrent and the current measurement signal to have a first value in thefirst operation mode and a second value lower than the first value inthe second operation mode.

A14. A method, including: generating a first protection signal based ona current-time-characteristic of a load current through a load path ofan electronic switch in an electronic circuit; operating the electroniccircuit in one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode atleast based on a level of the load current; and generating a statussignal such that the status signal, when operation changes from thesecond operation mode to the first operation mode, has a wakeup pulseand, after the wakeup pulse, a signal level representing a level of theload current.

A15. The method of clause A14, wherein generating the status signal inthe first operation mode includes continuously outputting the signallevel representing the level of the load current.

A16. The method of clause A14 or A15, wherein generating the statussignal in the first operation mode includes: receiving a polling signalby the electronic circuit; and outputting the signal level representingthe level of the load current only upon request by the polling signal.

A17. The method of clause A16, further including: in the secondoperation mode, outputting a status pulse different from the wakeuppulse upon request by the polling signal.

A18. The method of one of clauses A15 to A17, wherein operating theelectronic circuit in one of the first operation mode and the secondoperation mode at least based on the level of the load current includes:changing operation from the second operation mode to the first operationmode when the load current reaches a predefined threshold.

A19. The method of one of clauses A14 to A18, further including:receiving an input signal by the electronic circuit, and driving theelectronic switch based on the input signal in both the first operationmode and the second operation mode.

A20. The method of one of clauses A14 to A19, further including:generating the first protection signal in the first operation and not inthe second operation mode.

A21. The method of one of clauses A14 to A20, further including:measuring the load current and providing a current measurement signalproportional to the load current, wherein operating the electroniccircuit in the first operation mode or the second operation mode basedon the load current includes operating the electronic circuit in thefirst operation mode or the second operation mode based on the currentmeasurement signal.

A22. The method of clause A21, wherein a proportionality factor betweenthe load current and the current measurement signal has a first value inthe first operation mode and a second value lower than the first valuein the second operation mode.

B1. An electronic circuit, including: an electronic switch including aload path; a first protection circuit configured to generate a firstprotection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a loadcurrent through the load path of the electronic switch; and a drivecircuit configured to drive the electronic switch based on the firstprotection signal, wherein the first protection circuit includes: alogarithmic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive anADC input signal representing the load current and to output an ADCoutput signal that includes a sequence of values such that each of thevalues represents a respective sample of the ADC input signal, a filterconfigured to filter the ADC output signal and output a filter outputsignal, and a comparator circuit configured to generate the firstprotection signal based on comparing the filter output signal with apredefined threshold.

B2. The electronic circuit of clause B1, wherein the filter isconfigured to calculate a weighted sum of a plurality of successivevalues of the ADC output signal and generate the filter output signalbased on the weighted sum.

B3. The electronic circuit of clause B2, wherein the filter beingconfigured to calculate a weighted sum of a plurality of successivevalues of the ADC output signal includes calculating one value S43[k] ofthe filter output signal by

S43[k]=S42[k]+(1−α)·S43[k−1], where S42[k] is one value of the ADCoutput signal, S43[k−1] is one previous value of the filter outputsignal, and 1−α is a constant, with 1−α<1.

B4. The electronic circuit of clause B3, wherein the filter isconfigured to calculate (1−α)·S43[k−1] only based on or more registershift operations and one or more summations.

B5. The electronic circuit of one of clauses B1 to B4, furtherincluding: a first input configured to receive an input signal, whereinthe drive circuit is further configured to drive the electronic switchbased on the input signal.

B6. The electronic circuit of clause B5, wherein the drive circuit isconfigured to switch the electronic switch based on the input signalwhen the first protection signal has an enable level, switch off theelectronic switch when the input signal has an on-level and the firstprotection signal has a disable level, and after the electronic switchhas been switched off by a disable level of the first protection signal,switch on the first electronic switch when the first protection signalhas a disable level and after the input signal has changed from anoff-level to an on-level.

B7. The electronic circuit of one of clauses B1 to B6, furtherincluding: a second input configured to receive a signal representingthe predefined threshold.

B8. The electronic circuit of one of clauses B1 to B7, furtherincluding: a second protection circuit configured to generate a secondprotection signal based only on a current level of the load pathcurrent.

B9. The electronic circuit of one of clauses B1 to B8, furtherincluding: a third protection circuit configured to generate a thirdprotection signal based on a temperature of the electronic switch.

B10. The electronic circuit of one of clauses B1 to B9, wherein theelectronic switch includes at least one device selected from the groupconsisting of: a MOSFET; an IGBT; a BJT; a JFET; and a GaN HEMT.

B11. A method, including: generating a first protection signal based ona current-time-characteristic of a current through a load path of anelectronic switch; and driving the electronic switch based on the firstprotection signal, wherein generating the first protection signalincludes: by a logarithmic analog-to-digital converter (ADC), receivingan ADC input signal representing the load current and outputting an ADCoutput signal that includes a sequences of values such that each of thevalues represents a respective sample of the ADC input signals,filtering the ADC output signal and outputting a filter output signal bya filter, and generating the first protection signal based on comparingthe filter output signal with a predefined threshold by a comparatorcircuit.

B12. The method of clause B11, wherein filtering the ADC output signalby the filter includes calculating a weighted sum of a plurality ofsuccessive values of the ADC output signal and generating the filteroutput signal based on the weighted sum.

B13. The method of clause B12, wherein calculating the weighted sum of aplurality of successive values of the ADC output signal includescalculating one value S43[k] of the filter output signal byS43[k]=S42[k]+(1−α)·S43[k−1], where S42[k] is one value of the ADCoutput signal, S43[k−1] is one previous value of the filter outputsignal, and 1−α is a constant, with 1−α<1.

B14. The method of clause B13, wherein calculating (1−α)·S43[k−1] isonly based on or more register shift operations and one or moresummations.

B15. The method of one of clauses B11 to B14, further including: drivingthe electronic switch based on an input signal.

B16. The method of clause B15, wherein the driving the electronic switchbased on the input signal includes: switching the electronic switchbased on the input signal when the first protection signal has an enablelevel, switching off the electronic switch when the input signal has anon-level and the first protection signal has a disable level, and afterthe electronic switch has been switched off by a disable level of thefirst protection signal, switching on the first electronic switch whenthe first protection signal has a disable level and after the inputsignal has changed from an off-level to an on-level.

B17. The method of one of clauses B11 to B16, further including:generating a second protection signal based only on a current level ofthe load path current.

B18. The method of one of clauses B11 to B17, further including:generating a third protection signal based on a temperature of theelectronic switch.

B19. The method of one of clauses B11 to B18, wherein the electronicswitch includes at least one device selected from the group consistingof: a MOSFET; an IGBT; a BJT; a JFET; and a GaN HEMT.

C1. An electronic circuit, including: an electronic switch including aload path; a first protection circuit configured to generate a firstprotection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a loadcurrent through the load path of the electronic switch; a drive circuitconfigured to drive the electronic switch based on the first protectionsignal, wherein the first protection circuit includes ananalog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC inputsignal representing the load current, to sample the ADC input signalonce in each of a plurality of successive sampling periods, and tooutput an ADC output signal that includes a sequence of values such thateach of the values represents a respective sample of the ADC inputsignal, wherein the ADC is configured to pseudo-randomly select a sampletime in each sampling period.

C2. The electronic circuit of clause C1, wherein the ADC beingconfigured to pseudo-randomly select a sample time in each samplingperiod including the ADC being configured to select the sample timebased on an output signal of a linear feedback shift register.

C3. The electronic circuit of clause C1 or C2, wherein the ADC beingconfigured to pseudo-randomly select a sample time in each samplingperiod including the ADC being configured to select a sample time from afixed number of sample times in each sampling period.

C4. The electronic circuit of one of clauses C1 to C3, wherein the ADCis a logarithmic ADC.

C5. The electronic circuit of one of clauses C1 to C4, furtherincluding: a first input configured to receive an input signal, whereinthe drive circuit is further configured to drive the electronic switchbased on the input signal.

C6. The electronic circuit of clause C5, wherein the drive circuit isconfigured to switch the electronic switch based on the input signalwhen the first protection signal has an enable level, switch off theelectronic switch when the input signal has an on-level and the firstprotection signal has a disable level, and after the electronic switchhas been switched off by a disable level of the first protection signal,switch on the first electronic switch when the first protection signalhas a disable level and after the input signal has changed from anoff-level to an on-level.

C7. The electronic circuit of one of clauses C1 to C6, wherein theelectronic switch includes at least one device selected from the groupconsisting of: a MOSFET; an IGBT; a BJT; a JFET; and a HEMT.

C8. A method, including: generating a first protection signal based on acurrent-time-characteristic of a load current through a load path of anelectronic switch, wherein generating the first protection signalincludes, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), receiving an ADCinput signal representing the load current, sampling the ADC inputsignal once in each of a plurality of successive sampling periods, andoutputting an ADC output signal that includes a sequence of values suchthat each of the values represents a respective sample of the ADC inputsignal, wherein sampling the ADC input signal once in each of aplurality of successive sampling periods includes sampling the ADC inputsignal at a pseudo-randomly selected sampling time in each samplingperiod.

C9. The method of clause C8, wherein sampling the ADC input signal at apseudo-randomly selected sampling time in each sampling period includesselecting the sampling time based on an output signal of a linearfeedback shift register.

C10. The method of clause C8 or C9, wherein sampling the ADC inputsignal at a pseudo-randomly selected sampling time in each samplingperiod includes selecting a sampling time from a fixed number ofsampling times in each sampling period.

C11. The method of one of clauses C8 to C10, wherein the ADC is alogarithmic ADC.

C12. The method of one of clauses C8 to C11, further including: drivingthe electronic switch based on an input signal.

C13. The method of clause C12, wherein driving the electronic switchbased on the input signal includes: switching the electronic switchbased on the input signal when the first protection signal has an enablelevel, switching off the electronic switch when the input signal has anon-level and the first protection signal has a disable level, and afterthe electronic switch has been switched off by a disable level of thefirst protection signal, switching on the first electronic switch whenthe first protection signal has a disable level and after the inputsignal has changed from an off-level to an on-level.

C14. The method of one of clauses C8 to C13, wherein the electronicswitch includes at least one device selected from the group consistingof: a MOSFET; an IGBT; a BJT; a JFET; and a HEMT.

D1. An electronic circuit, including: an electronic switch including aload path; a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switch,wherein the control circuit is configured to operate in one of at leasttwo operation modes, wherein the at least two operation modes include afirst operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein the controlcircuit, in the second operation mode, is configured to perform a set ofbasic functions and, in the first operation mode, is configured toperform the set of basic functions and at least one additional function,wherein the at least one additional function includes generating a firstprotection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a loadcurrent of the electronic switch and driving the first electronic switchbased on the first protection signal.

D2. The electronic circuit of clause D1, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to drive the electronic switch based on an input signal inthe first operation mode and the second operation mode.

D3. The electronic circuit of clause D1 or D2, wherein the controlcircuit is configured to drive the electronic switch based on a supplyvoltage received by the control circuit in the first operation mode andthe second operation mode, wherein the supply voltage is configured topower the control circuit.

D4. The electronic circuit of one of clauses D1 to D3, wherein the setof basic functions includes: monitoring the load current and switchingoff the electronic switch when the load current reaches a predefinedovercurrent threshold.

D5. The electronic circuit of one of clauses D1 to D4, wherein the setof basic functions includes: monitoring a temperature of the electronicswitch and switching off the electronic switch when the temperaturereaches a predefined overtemperature threshold.

D6. The electronic circuit of clause D4 or D5, wherein the at least twooperation modes further include a third operation mode, wherein in thethird operation mode the control circuit is configured to monitor theload current and regulate the load current when the load current reachesthe overcurrent threshold.

D7. The electronic circuit of clause D6, wherein the control circuitbeing configured to regulate the load current includes the controlcircuit being configured to regulate the load current to have a targetlevel that substantially equals the overcurrent threshold.

D8. The electronic circuit of one of clauses D1 to D7, wherein thecontrol circuit includes a first protection circuit configured togenerate the first protection signal and including: an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC input signal representingthe load current and to output an ADC output signal, a filter configuredto filter the ADC output signal and output a filter output signal, and acomparator circuit configured to generate the first protection signalbased on comparing the filter output signal with a predefined threshold.

D9. The electronic circuit of clause D8, further including: a furtherinput configured to receive a signal representing the predefinedthreshold.

D10. The electronic circuit of one of clauses D1 to D9, wherein thecontrol circuit further includes a status output, and wherein thecontrol circuit is further configured to generate a wakeup pulse at thestatus output when operation changes from the second operation mode tothe first operation mode.

D11. The electronic circuit of one of clauses D1 to D10, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to enter the second operation based on theload current and at least one other parameter.

D12. The electronic circuit of clause D11, wherein the at least oneother parameter is selected from the group consisting of: a filteroutput signal in a filter of a first protection circuit configured togenerate the first protection signal; a temperature difference between atemperature in the electronic switch and a temperature in the controlcircuit; an ambient temperature of the electronic circuit; and anon-resistance of the electronic switch.

D13. A method, including: operating a control circuit configured todrive an electronic switch in one of at least two operation modes,wherein the at least two operation modes include a first operation modeand a second operation mode, wherein operating in the second operationmode includes performing a set of basic functions by the control circuitand operating in the first operation mode includes performing the set ofbasic functions and at least one additional function by the controlcircuit, wherein the at least one additional function includesgenerating a first protection signal based on acurrent-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronic switchand driving the first electronic switch based on the first protectionsignal.

D14. The method of clause D13, wherein operating in the first operationmode and the second operation mode includes driving the electronicswitch based on an input signal by the control circuit.

D15. The method of clause D13 or D14, wherein operating in the firstoperation mode and the second operation mode includes driving theelectronic switch based on a supply voltage received by the controlcircuit, wherein the supply voltage is configured to power the controlcircuit.

D16. The method of one of clauses D13 to D15, wherein the set of basicfunctions includes: monitoring the load current and switching off theelectronic switch when the load current reaches a predefined overcurrentthreshold.

D17. The method of one of clauses D13 to D16, wherein the set of basicfunctions includes: monitoring a temperature of the electronic switchand switching off the electronic switch when the temperature reaches apredefined overtemperature threshold.

D18. The method of clause D16 or D17, wherein the at least two operationmodes further include a third operation mode, wherein operating in thethird operation mode includes monitoring the load current and regulatingthe load current when the load current reaches the overcurrent thresholdby the control circuit.

D19. The method of clause D18, wherein regulating the load currentincludes regulating the load current to have a target level thatsubstantially equals the overcurrent threshold.

D20. The method of one of clause D13 to D19, further including:generating a wakeup pulse at a status output by the control circuit whenoperation changes from the second operation mode to the first operationmode.

D21. The method of one of clauses D13 to D20, further including:entering the second operation by the control circuit based on the loadcurrent and at least one other parameter.

D22. The method of clause D21, wherein the at least one other parameteris selected from the group consisting of: a filter output signal in afilter of a first protection circuit configured to generate the firstprotection signal; a temperature difference between a temperature in theelectronic switch and a temperature in the control circuit; an ambienttemperature of the electronic circuit; and an on-resistance of theelectronic switch.

E1. An electronic circuit, including: an electronic switch including aload path; a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switchand configured to operate in one of a first operation mode and a testmode, wherein the control circuit includes a test mode input and isconfigured to operate in the test mode based on a test signal receivedat the test input, and wherein the control circuit in the firstoperation mode is configured to generate a first protection signal basedon a current-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronicswitch and drive the first electronic switch based on the firstprotection signal.

E2. The electronic circuit of clause E1, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to determine a duty cycle of the test signal and to test oneof at least two different functions of the control circuit based on thedetermined duty cycle in order to obtain a test result.

E3. The electronic circuit of clause E1 or E2, wherein the controlcircuit includes a status output, and wherein the control circuit, inthe test mode, is configured to output a status signal at the statusoutput.

E4. The electronic circuit of clause E3, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to vary a signal level of the status signal dependent on atest result.

E5. The electronic circuit of clause E4, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to output a pass level if the test result indicates that thefunction has passed the test, and output a fail level if the test resultindicates that the function has failed the test.

E6. The electronic circuit of clause E4 or E5, wherein the fail level isindependent of the tested function.

E7. The electronic circuit of one of clauses E4 to E6, wherein the passlevel is dependent of the tested function.

E8. The electronic circuit of one of clauses E1 to E7, wherein thecontrol circuit further includes a drive input configured to receive aninput signal, wherein the control circuit is configured to drive theelectronic switch based on the input signal in the first operation mode.

E9. The electronic circuit of clause E8, wherein the control circuit isconfigured, in the test mode, to generate one of the pass level and thefail level only if the input signal has an on-level.

E10. The electronic circuit of clause E8 or E9, wherein the controlcircuit is configured, in the test mode, to output a signal leveldifferent from the pass level, the fail level and zero if the inputsignal has an off-level.

E11. A method, including: operating a control circuit configured todrive an electronic switch in one of a first operation mode and a testmode, wherein operating the control circuit in the test mode includesoperating the control circuit in the test mode based on a test signalreceived at a test input of the control circuit, and wherein operatingthe control circuit in the first operation mode includes generating afirst protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a loadcurrent of the electronic switch and driving the first electronic switchbased on the first protection signal by the control circuit.

E12. The method of clause E11, wherein operating the control circuit inthe test mode includes determining a duty cycle of the test signal andtesting one of at least two different functions of the control circuitbased on the determined duty cycle in order to obtain a test result.

E13. The method of clause E11 or E12, wherein operating the controlcircuit in the test mode includes outputting a status signal at a statusoutput.

E14. The method of clause E13, wherein outputting the status signal at astatus output includes varying a signal level of the status signaldependent on a test result.

E15. The method of clause E14, wherein varying a signal level of thestatus signal dependent on a test result includes: outputting a passlevel if the test result indicates that the function has passed thetest, and outputting a fail level if the test result indicates that thefunction has failed the test.

E16. The method of clause E15, wherein the fail level is independent ofthe tested function.

E17. The method of clause E15 or E16, wherein the pass level isdependent of the tested function.

E18. The method of one of clauses E11 to E17, wherein operating thecontrol circuit in the first operation mode includes: driving theelectronic switch based on an input signal.

E19. The method of clause E18, wherein operating the control circuit inthe test mode includes generating one of the pass level and the faillevel only if the input signal has an on-level.

E20. The method of clause E18 or E19, wherein operating the controlcircuit in the test mode includes outputting a signal level differentfrom the pass level, the fail level and zero if the input signal has anoff-level.

Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications can be made which will achieve some of theadvantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in theart that other components performing the same functions may be suitablysubstituted. It should be mentioned that features explained withreference to a specific figure may be combined with features of otherfigures, even in those cases in which this has not explicitly beenmentioned. Further, the methods of the invention may be achieved ineither all software implementations, using the appropriate processorinstructions, or in hybrid implementations that utilize a combination ofhardware logic and software logic to achieve the same results. Suchmodifications to the inventive concept are intended to be covered by theappended claims.

Spatially relative terms such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,”“upper” and the like, are used for ease of description to explain thepositioning of one element relative to a second element. These terms areintended to encompass different orientations of the device in additionto different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further,terms such as “first,” “second” and the like, are also used to describevarious elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended tobe limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout thedescription.

As used herein, the terms “having,” “containing,” “including,”“comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate thepresence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additionalelements or features. The articles “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

With the above range of variations and applications in mind, it shouldbe understood that the present invention is not limited by the foregoingdescription, nor is it limited by the accompanying drawings. Instead,the present invention is limited only by the following claims and theirlegal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic circuit, comprising: an electronicswitch comprising a load path; a first protection circuit configured togenerate a first protection signal based on acurrent-time-characteristic of a load current through the load path ofthe electronic switch; and a drive circuit configured to drive theelectronic switch based on the first protection signal, wherein thefirst protection circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)configured to receive an ADC input signal representing the load current,to sample the ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successivesampling periods, and to output an ADC output signal that includes asequence of values such that each of the values represents a respectivesample of the ADC input signal, and wherein the ADC is configured topseudo-randomly select a sample time in each sampling period.
 2. Theelectronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the ADC being configured topseudo-randomly select a sample time in each sampling period comprisingthe ADC being configured to select the sample time based on an outputsignal of a linear feedback shift register.
 3. The electronic circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the ADC being configured to pseudo-randomly select asample time in each sampling period comprising the ADC being configuredto select a sample time from a fixed number of sample times in eachsampling period.
 4. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the ADCis a logarithmic ADC.
 5. The electronic circuit of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first input configured to receive an input signal, whereinthe drive circuit is further configured to drive the electronic switchbased on the input signal.
 6. The electronic circuit of claim 5, whereinthe drive circuit is configured to switch the electronic switch based onthe input signal when the first protection signal has an enable level,switch off the electronic switch when the input signal has an on-leveland the first protection signal has a disable level, and after theelectronic switch has been switched off by a disable level of the firstprotection signal, switch on the electronic switch when the firstprotection signal has a disable level and after the input signal haschanged from an off-level to an on-level.
 7. The electronic circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic switch comprises at least one deviceselected from the group consisting of: a MOSFET; an IGBT; a BJT; a JFET;and a HEMT.
 8. A method, comprising: generating a first protectionsignal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current througha load path of an electronic switch, wherein generating the firstprotection signal comprises, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC),receiving an ADC input signal representing the load current, samplingthe ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successive samplingperiods, and outputting an ADC output signal that includes a sequence ofvalues such that each of the values represents a respective sample ofthe ADC input signal, wherein sampling the ADC input signal once in eachof a plurality of successive sampling periods comprises sampling the ADCinput signal at a pseudo-randomly selected sampling time in eachsampling period.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein sampling the ADCinput signal at a pseudo-randomly selected sampling time in eachsampling period comprises selecting the sampling time based on an outputsignal of a linear feedback shift register.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein sampling the ADC input signal at a pseudo-randomly selectedsampling time in each sampling period comprises selecting a samplingtime from a fixed number of sampling times in each sampling period. 11.The method of claim 8, wherein the ADC is a logarithmic ADC.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: driving the electronic switchbased on an input signal.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein drivingthe electronic switch based on the input signal comprises: switching theelectronic switch based on the input signal when the first protectionsignal has an enable level, switching off the electronic switch when theinput signal has an on-level and the first protection signal has adisable level, and after the electronic switch has been switched off bya disable level of the first protection signal, switching on theelectronic switch when the first protection signal has a disable leveland after the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level.14. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic switch comprises atleast one device selected from the group consisting of: a MOSFET; anIGBT; a BJT; a JFET; and a HEMT.